Although you may have had a hard time getting a fair deal on a vehicle, that’s changing now. You must learn the necessary skills of negotiation. You need not settle for anything less than the best.
Try to stay in control of the negotiations with your salesperson. Don’t let them talk you into a vehicle that is out of your price range. A salesperson will say anything and everything to get someone in a new vehicle, and the higher the price tag, the higher commission he will earn. When you purchase a vehicle that is not within your budget, you can be sure that the dealership and salesperson — not YOU — will benefit.
Shop around online before visiting a dealership. You should only visit a dealership after you know absolutely which make and model you want. Research online before settling on any final decisions.
You should find a way of financing your new car before shopping. Start with your local bank for options. This will generally help you get the lowest possible interest rate, and you will go into the car buying process with your eyes wide open with respect to your budget.
Pay attention to whole price of the car, not just the price you have to pay every month. The monthly price can be changed to suit your needs, but the overall price will still be very high. Don’t forget to check that before you sign on the dotted line. Instead, concentrate on getting the best purchase price and the type of financing available. Then you can adjust the monthly payments.
Before buying a used car from a dealership, ask to have it looked over by a third-party mechanic. If your dealer does not allow you to have a mechanic inspect it, then walk away from the deal. A mechanic will help you identify issues and recognize signs of a wreck if you are purchasing a used car.
If you buy a vehicle from an individual, make sure that you have it checked out by a mechanic first. When the seller says no, move on. It is possible that there are issues that a layman cannot detect that will have an impact on the vehicle’s value. Make sure that you understand this before making a purchase.
Do not pay sticker price for a vehicle. The dealer isn’t expecting to get the asking price. If you can’t negotiate, bring in a skilled friend. You need to have an idea of the right price ahead of time.
Try to bring someone with you if you are going shopping for a vehicle. They can listen, see and even help you figure out problems. This person can be a friend, relative or spouse.
Test Drive
Test drive any car before you purchase. Even if you’ve test driven something similar, make sure to test drive the car you’re looking at now. There could always be something which makes you hate driving the car.
When you are looking for a car, be sure to look at the safety features that are the most important. This includes a great braking system. You also want to make sure there are air bags, and the more the better. Safety is important, since you will be traveling in this vehicle alot.
If you’re driving a nice car already, don’t bring it to the dealership when you’re looking for another. The sales staff will see that car and decline your rock bottom offers, unless the car is one you plan to use as a trade-in.
Do not talk about trade-ins, down payments or incentives until after you have a firm price on the car you want. This will be taken care of after the fact. You will get a better price by negotiating the deal first, and then discussing these “extras”.
Are you ready to tackle negotiating? These guidelines should have helped you to make better decisions. You don’t need to just be confused about things or think what people tell you is true. You’ve got the knowledge to find the best deal.